SYDNEY (Reuters)
Australia's newspapers were pessimistic about the triangular-series chances of Steve Waugh's side in the wake of their 23-run defeat by New Zealand at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday.

Under the headline: "Kiwis tighten one-day noose", The Australian newspaper said Waugh's team were "seemingly out of contention for next month's limited-overs finals".

Australia started hosting triangular limited-overs series in 1979-80 and have missed the finals only twice, in that season and in 1996-97.

Australia had never lost their opening three matches in the triangular series and had not lost three successive one-day internationals for four years.

New Zealand's winning margin on Thursday replicated their victory over Australia in Melbourne last week. Australia also lost to South Africa last week and have no points from three matches in the series.

Australia's next game is against South Africa at Brisbane on Sunday. South Africa play New Zealand at Brisbane on Saturday.

The Australian newspaper said selection changes following the team's 1996-97 series failures against Pakistan and West Indies helped put Australia on the path to their 1999 World Cup success.

"Now, with glaring holes appearing in a team who went into this tournament as clear favourites, a similar overhaul is pending," the report said. Australia defend their World Cup title in South Africa next year.

The Herald Sun newspaper, under a main back-page headline which read: "Three strikes ... and are the Aussies out?", described Thursday's loss as a "debacle".

The Herald Sun also hinted that Waugh had argued unsuccessfully with chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns to have Test opener Matthew Hayden picked for the match.

The Age newspaper said that the New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming's withdrawal from the game after injuring his elbow during the warm-up was not the only pre-match drama.

"Three hours before the game, chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns stood on the SCG arena discussing the team's situation for half an hour with Australian coach John Buchanan," The Age said.

"Later, he returned to settle the team's composition with Waugh. It seemed anything but straightforward."

Waugh said the pre-match talk was nothing unusual and that the team were fine, just struggling for form.

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